My CIR Journey - Karolina Molinska

Tell us a little about your background – what were you doing before you moved into IR?

I have been working in IR at Kingfisher for just over three years. This is my first role post-university, having completed a master’s degree in maths at Durham University prior to joining.

Why did you decide to study for the Certificate in IR?

I wanted to broaden my knowledge of investor relations outside of what I had learned so far during my time at Kingfisher.

How did you find the process of studying for the Certificate in IR?

It was very helpful to be able to access the mock exams to have a better understanding of how the content is being examined. The study materials gave a good overview of each topic and there are some areas which I found particularly interesting and will be looking to
gain more insight into through courses offered by the IR Society.

Has the knowledge gained from the CIR been useful in your day-to-day job?

The knowledge gained as a result of having completed the CIR has been helpful in providing me with a stronger understanding of why we, as an IR team, do certain things in a certain way – e.g. due to reporting regulations or requirements of a listed company.

What would you say to anyone who was thinking of studying for the Certificate in IR?

I would recommend completing it early on in their IR career. There is a lot of interesting and helpful background to the role of investor relations, which you can either hope to learn at some point – or be sure you are aware of from the very start, thanks to the CIR.